TECHNICAL

How To Install

How To Install

Chose the type and shades:
Once you have identified the type of tiles , then chose which shade will you prefer.

Choose the pattern:
Kindly refer to our patterns guidelines (Link to 4b Floor Patterns), and choose a pattern first, before installing National Tiles.

Tiling for National Tiles products:
National Tiles should be pressed firmly into place with a twisting motion until properly aligned and bedded. On vertical applications tiling should begin from the bottom upwards. Ensure that at least 75% of the tile back is in contact with the cement or the adhesive. A minimum width of 5mm must be left around tiles for grouting.

Grouting:
Tiling with National Tiles requires the installation of 5 mm to 10 mm grouting along the perimeter of each tile. This extra space allows the tiles to expand and contract with weather conditions, like humidity and for tile damage prevention in extreme cases.

The grouting operation can be carried out simultaneously with the application of the bedding mortar or after the bedding mortar has set. When proceeding with one continuous operation, apply extra thickness in the bed to allow for material to ooze through the gaps once tiles are pressed onto the cement or the adhesive. The grout is then trimmed off and grouted joints are finished with a spatula or palette knife. Where grouting is to be carried out after the bed has set and tiles are permanently fixed in place apply the epoxy grout to the joints by plastic spatula and finish off. Following the grouting operation use a fibrous pad or solvated damp soft cloth to clean off the excess material (do not use water). This should take place within 15 minutes and care should be exercised not to use water or allow water to come into contact with the wet grout. Surplus material must be removed from the face of the tiles before it sets.

Chemical resistance of National Tiles
Outstanding Chemical Resistance - Resistant to a wide range of concentrated acids and alkalis, solvents, oils and fats. Resistant to spillages of concentrated Sulphuric, hydrochloric and phosphoric acids.

DIN 18166 - Determination of chemical resistance method applicable to all ceramic tiles to determine the chemical resistance at room temperature. Each of the aqueous solution shown in Catalogue must be tested on at least 5 test samples.

Samples taken from National Tiles, after being partially immersed in test solutions for 12 days.

Then are left under running water for 5 days. Boiled in water for 30 days.,

Dried and examined visually for any variations on the surface, the edges cut and, on the basis of the observed effects we have the classification done.

The target is a crucial aspect for the tile and the tile from National Tiles, is characterized by a relatively compact (hard material) and then in addition to expressing good resistance to mechanical stress also has excellent resistance to chemicals .

Characteristics of Thermo-Humidity
DIN 18166 - Frost resistance: NTCL are resistance to particular conditions of temperature and humidity such as thermal shock resistance, resistance to frost. Test method applicable to all ceramic tiles to be used in freezing conditions and in the presence of water. The test period must be made on a minimum area of 0.25 M2 and with no less than 10 whole tiles free defects.
M1 = GIVEN WEIGHT OF TILES DRYER
M2 = WEIGHT OF TILES soaked in water
E1 = INITIAL WATER ABSORPTION
E1 = (M2-M1) M1.100
Determined the initial uptake of water all the tiles are placed in a climatic chamber and proceed
Cycle of freezing and thawing following way:
• Cooling of the tile down to -5 ° C.
• Stay at -5 ° for 15 min.
• Introduction of water at + 70 ° C. to bring the tiles to +5 ° C.
• Stay at + 5 ° C. for 15 min.

This cycle must be repeated for a minimum of 100 times. At the end of this test, the samples are weighed (M3) dried to constant weight (M4) And examined visually. It then calculates the final E2 absorption to water E2 = (M3-M4) M4 .100 And note any damage which occurred on the surface and edges.

So there is a correlation between frost resistance and water absorption. The lower absorption of water the more likely it is that the material is resistant to frost in the more difficult the penetration of water inside the material.

The products by National Tiles are frost-resistant and have an average water absorption of less than 1%.

MECHANICAL Tests:
DIN 18166 - Determination of strength. The test shall be made on tile whole, the number of which depends on the size of the tiles the same. The tile is placed on two rollers with the working surface upwards. The load is applied steadily (1N/mm2s) by third roller in contact

with the surface along the operating along the centerline of exercise. Extruded tiles are arranged so that the extrusion direction is perpendicular to the rollers.

The resistance expressed in N/mm2 or flexion or is given by ∂ = 3FL/2BH2
Where:
F = load required to break the tile
L = distance of the support rollers interested
b = width of the tile at the section break
h = thickness of the section break.

IMPORTANCE OF THE THICKNESS:
In the case of industrial flooring must be carefully assessed to the loads placed on them: concentrated loads of machinery or self-propelled vehicles with wheels filled polyamide, such as trucks or trolleys trucks, may exceed 100 kg/cm2 and even reach 200 to 300 Kg/cm2 considering the dynamic factors and safety. Then comes to loads that operate on the fringes compressive strength of mortars obtainable on site. That is to say that the tile, having a much higher resistance to the substrate, is acts as a "beam", i.e., bending works. Hence the need, as well as proper sizing and execution of the substrate, to have tiles with high tensile strengths. Then from (1) we can obtain the breaking load F = 2 ∂ bh2/3 L where we note that the tensile strength is directly proportional to the coefficient of resistance to bending but also and especially to the square of the thickness: is therefore clear the importance and the opportunity to use thicker tiles.

IMPORTANT INSTALLATION POINTS
The following points must be observed to achieve the best aesthetic and technical floor or paving result:
1. During installation take tiles randomly from two or three packs.
2. Follow the recommended grout gaps shown on the label of the tile pack.
3. When installing square tiles ensure that underside fixing ribs are running in the same direction whenever possible.
4. Flexible 10 mm expansion joints should be installed along restrained perimeters of the installed area, around rigid interruptions, above substrate construction joints, and every 4 to 5 meters across any continuous expanse of floor or paving; or follow local standards when available.